Steering wheel



Uct. 14", 1924. 1,511,227

' Y L. LAZEAR STEERING WHEEITI Original Filled April 5, 1919 all Jl vWfl/1% I f Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE.

LEROY C. LAZEAR, QF CHICEiGO, ILLINOIS.

STEERING THEEL.

Application led April 5, 1919, Serial No. 287,8

T 0 all 107mm t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY C. Lamas, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering lvVheels, ofwhich the 'following is a specification.

rlhis invention has to do with steering` wheels for automobiles, motorboats, etc., and is specially concerned with means for interlocking thewheel to the post having connection with the steering apparatus, andwith means by which this interlocking connection may be disestablishedto render the steering wheel inoperative.

Various forms ot steeringv wheel locks for automobiles andthe like haveheretofore been devised, usually involving the attachment of certainunsightly parts to the steering wheel or to the post upon which it ismounted. Such steering wheel locks. turthermore, are ordinarilycomplicated, and not uniformly eliectual, so that they performinadequately their intended function, In addition to thesedisadvantages, it is usually not diflicult for an unauthorized person topick or tamper with the locks so provided, in consequence of which noreal protection is afforded.

My improved steering wheel provides a connection with the post which isentirely concealed so that the wheel remains substantially the same inappearance as others commonly in use; it includes means, however, bywhich the wheel may be readily rendered operative or inoperative asdesired. It is, furthermore, simple and positive in its action, andretains within its own hotly practically all the operative clementsnecessary to eii'ect the desired locking and unlocking actions. Forthese as well as other'reasons, it is practically immune from tampering.The steering wheel of this invention.y moreover, may be attached to theordinary steering post without requiring' special parts or accessories,and is, furthermore, adapted, without modification, for attachment toposts ot different size and shape, in consequence oit which it may besupplied as an ordinary adjunct to the standard kinds of steeringapparatus now employed in automobiles, motor boats, and the like. Theseand other objects' `of? my invention will more fully hereinafter appearfrom the spec'-lcation Renewed July 6, 1922. Serial No. 573,188.

and claims, and from the accompanying drawing in whichm Figure l is aview looking toward th` under side of the central portion of a steering`wheel constructed in accordance with my invention. the spider platebeing removed to exhibit the interior parts;

Fig. 2 is a cross section therethrough, aken on line 2 2 of Fig: l; and

Fig'. 3 is a detail in cross section taken on line 3&3 of Fig. l.

Inasmuch as the parts special to this invention are all located in thecentral portion of the wheel, I have thought it Sullicient to illustrateonly this portion. Accordingly there is shown the inner ends of thewheel spokes which may conveniently be four in number, designated as A,B, C, and D. It will be understood that these spokes eXtend outwardlyfrom the center as far as desired to support a circular rim. The wheelis adapted for operative connection with a hub 10 which is suitablyformed for attachment to the upper end of a steering post 1l. At thispoint, it may be mentioned that the wheel and hub in their relation toeach other may be always the same, but, owing to the diversity ot shapesand sizes of steering postsI with which the wheel may be usedadvantageously, the hub in its relation to each such post should. bevaried properly to connect therewith. In other words, the present wheelsconstructed to a standard size and design may be adapted to practicallyany form of steering post by the use oic a proper hub.

The post shown in Fig. 2 may be ot standard construction with a taperedupper end. the ann'le or length of such taper being of relativeunimnortance. Upon the eXtremitv of the post, I provide threads l2 belowwhich are form-ed one or more slots 13 havingry an increasing depth.caused by makingd the bottom or" the slot parallel to the axis of thepost. The hub 10 which is arranged to iit upon the post so formed istapered interiorly in comtormity therewith. and is provided with one ormore slots 1,4 complementary to the slots 13. so that a kev l5 may bereceived therein to lock the hub non-rotatably to the post.

It will be noted that the several spokes of the wheel merge into acentral 'portion which is hollowed to provide a ce the reception' ot'-the locking ele ots that will presently be described. This space bypreference opens onto the underside ot the wheel to facilitate itsmanufacture and assembly, butin completed condition is closed by meansof a spider platel suitably cured in place with rivets 17 or otherappropriate devices. Adjacent the 4hub the wheel center is formed with atiange which preferably depends below the lower end of the hub inprotecting relation there-- to. The upper side of. the wheel centerterminates short of the hub atwhich place a ringl9 is `connectedtherewith, preferablyY by threads, pins 2O being employed to lock thering in place. Threaded upon the upper end of the post is a cap 21 inthe nature of a nut having its sides 22 preferablv smooth and oblique soas to resist torsional engagement with a wrench or other similarinstrument. Preferably an annular shoulder 23 is formed on the wheel asshown. in surrounding relation to the lower edge ot the cap so as toprevent insertion ot an instrument thereunder. The ycap is formed withone or more holes in register with the keys l5 each capable of receivinga pin 24 which may be driven to position over the key to prevent removalof the latter. ByV

this construction it will be noted that the cap is locked non-rotatablyupon the post. The means for lockingthe wheel. to the `post include anannular rib or shoulder 25 formed on the hub in a plane coincidentwiththe chamber interiorly ot theY wheel` this rib having notches orrecesses26 at desired places, each notch, by preference.. being slightlytapered in the direction et the wheel center. Other means co-operatingwith these .notches are movably arranged within thewwheel chamber and,in

the form shown, consist of two similarA clutch'plates 27, one arrangedwithin each of two opposite spokes such vas, B and D. Each clutch plateis formed with a pair ot bow-shaped arms 28 vhaving` a curvaturecorresponding closely to thatdot the rib 25,

casA

atapered head 2,9 being projected centi-'ally between the arms inposition to enter one ofthe notches 26, as shown in Fig. l. Preferablyeach head 29 is ot such size as to enter almost, but not entirely,within any yof thenotches 26, so as to avoid loose play,

and allow for wear such as results from usage. 71th this arrangement ofthe parts,

` the extremities of the bow arms lie in proximate relation in thevicinity .of the spokes Ar and' Y Within the spokel A I have arranged aslidable bolt 30 whose retractive movements are .governed by akey-controlled lock which will presently be described. This bolt whichis in the form of a plate has a neck 3l upon which is carried a head 32having shoulders 32, the head being adapted to abut the proximate ends`of the bow arms 28 when the clutch plates are engaged with the hub, asshown in Fig. l. Y ,o 1 y it is intended that this' bolt 30' shall havecapacity tor movement toward the wheel center sntliciently to presentits head 32 between the pronin'iate ends ot the bow arms when theclutchplates 2T are Withdrawn from locking position, the shoulders 32aengagingwith the arms to prevent the head troni contacting with the hub. Thesemovements of the clutch plates, however, may not be madewith entireindependence of -the bolt 30 owing to the provision of a pair o1e bellcranks which are pivoted as at 33., each being arranged to present onearm 34 within a notch formed in the proximate bow arm., and to swing itsother arm 36 within the space adjacent the head 32 of the bolt 30.` ltwill be lnoted thatv a similar bell crank is provided for each of theclutch pla-tes, one ope-ratingon each side of the bolt 3G, so thatthemovements of the clutch plates are, therefore, rendered simultaneous andalways toward or trom each other;

- l? or retracting and disengaging the clutch plates trom the hub, sothat the wheel will be 'free to revolve idly upon the post, I haveprovided in each plate 27 a locking pin 37 extended through a slot 38.in the spider plate and carrying a handle portion 39Von the undersideot the wheel. These pins are arranged 'l'or upV and down movements intheir respective clutch plates, each being provided with a head el()adapted to enter within a socket 4l formed in the upper partV of thewheel, a coilspring t2 acting to normally maintain each pin 37 inlocking position so as to prevent accident-al retract-ion of the clutchplates. A spring' 43 may 'further be provided rearwardly or eachclutchplate by which means these plates tend always to remain in lockingrelation with the hub.

rom the description thus tar given, it will be understood that the,operationoi-,unn clutching the wheel Vtrom llepost requires merely thatthe Vtwo pins 3T be pulled downwardly to unlocking position followingwhich the clutch plates are manually7 retracted outwardly until theirheads V29 no longer engageV with Vthe hub. During this operation, thebell cranks are swung around so as to move their arms 36 close to thehead 32 ot the bolt 30; but, prior to abutting therewith, theextremities of the bow arms will have separated suiiiciently to' allowthe bolt 30 vto snap in'between them under the influence of a spring 43.VV-ith the parts into locking relation with the hub. As a simpleassembly of parts for this purpose, l have shown in Fig. 3 a rotatablecylindrical lock la having the usual slit for the entry of a proper key,this lock being positioned within the spider plate, as shown. Aconnection between this lock and the bolt 30 is provided in the pin 45located eccentrically of the axis of the lock, and disposed within aslot 46 formed in the bolt 30, the arrangement being such that when thelock is rotated under the influence of the proper key, it will cause thebolt 30 to move with it.

By the use of some such means as has been described, a person having theproper key may retract the bolt 30 from between the clutch plates,permitting the latter' to snap forwardly into engagement with the hub;and by slight rotation of the wheel two of the notches 26 will alignwith the heads 29 of the clutch plates, thus completing the lockingoperation. The two bell cranks provide al positive means of drawingtogether the two clutch plates if the springs Li3 should fail in theiroperation, it being merely necessary that the bolt 30 be retractedslightly further than its normal position shown in Fig. l, in order thatits head may have engagement with the arms 36 of each bell crank such asto exert a pulling effect upon the clutch plates.

The structure of the present steering wheel is such as to make itdifficult, if not impossible, to tamper or pick the locking elements. ltis only by laborious effort that the spider plate may be removed, due tothe permanent character of the fastenings employed, or that the cap 2lmay be unscrewed and the ring 19 taken out so as to permit access to theinterior of the wheel. While the obstacles in the way of removing thewheel from the post are almost insurmountable, the .operation ofinitially installing the wheel is very simple. Prior to attaching thewheel in place the ring 19 and cap 2l are not permanently secure-d tothe wheel, but are loose so as to permit the wheel to be first placedover the post, followed by the hub which is then locked thereto, afterwhich the wheel is drawn up to proper position and the exterior partssecured permanently in place.

l claim:

l. A steering wheel embodying, in combination, spokes merging centrallyof the wheel in which is an axial opening and a surrounding chambercontaining movable locking elements, a hub for the wheel formedseparately therefrom and wholly contained within the axial opening, thehub being formed to interlock with a steering post, means formed on thehub with which the locking elements may engage to establish anon-rotatable connection between the wheel and hub, a plate arrangedcentrally of the wheel on one side thereof and removable from the wheelto permit the locking elements to be assembled therein, means forpermanently securing the plate upon the wheel, whereby a seal isprovided against tampering with the parts therein, and means on theopposite side of the wheel removable therefrom permitting the hub to bewithdrawn from the wheel preliminary to its interlock with the steeringpost, substan tially as described.

2. In a steering wheel having an axial opening adjacent which is achamber extending' interiorly into certain of the wheel spokes, thecombination of a hub formed separatelyy therefrom and wholly containedwithin the axial opening, means for locking the wheel and hub againstrelative rotation comprising a clutch member slidably arranged withinone of the wheel spokes and adapted to present its acting end againstthe hub, the hub being suitably notched to receive the acting end of theclutch plate, the clutch plate having bow-arms in encircling relation tothe hub terminating adjacent other of the wheel spokes, and a slide boltin proximity to the end of one of said bow-arms having spring means fornormally advancing said bolt toward the wheel center, and adapted whenthe clutch plate is withdrawn from engaging position with the hub tooccupy a posit-ion in advance of the bow-arm whereby the clutch plate isprevented 'from interlocking with the hub, substantially as described.

3. ln a steering wheel having an axial opening adjacent which is achamber formed interi-orly of the wheel, the combination of a hub formedseparately therefrom and wholly contained within the axial opening, andmeans for locking the wheel against rotation relative to the hubcomprising a clutch plate arranged within the chambered portion of thewheel having an acting end adapted to engage with the hub, the hub beingsuitably notched to receive the acting end of the clutch plate, andmeans for retracting the clutch plate from engaging relation with thehub comprising a pin arranged within the clutch plate but adaptedtopresent a portion of itself within a recess provided in the wheel, thepin having spring means for normally maintaining itself in a lockingrelation within the recess whereby the clutch plate is prevented fromdisengaging from the hub, the pin havin@r means extended exteriorly ofthe whee adapted for manual operation whereby the pin may be retractedfrom locking position preliminary to retracting the clutch plate fromengaging relation with the hub, substantially as described.

4t. In a steering wheel having an axial opening adjacent which is achamber formed interiorly of the wheel, the combination of a hub formedseparately therefrom and wholly contained within trie axial opening,means for establishing an interlocking connection between the wheel andhub consisting of a slidable clutch plate arranged within the wheelchamber and adapted to engage with the hub, the hub being suitablyrecessed to receive the acting end of the clutch plate, the clutch platebeing provided with a bow-arm partially encircling the hub andterminating adjacent one of the wheel spokes, a slide bolt in said wheelspoke having spring means for normally projecting itself in the path ofreturn movement of the bowarm when the clutch plate is retracted, and aloose connection between the slide bolt and bow-arm consisting oi abell-crank pivoted to the wheel and having its arms in' loose engagementone with the bolt Vand one with the bow-arm, the slide bolt whenretracted co-operating with the bell crank lever for positively movingforward the clutch plate into locking relation with the hub,substantially as described.

5. ln a steering wheel having an axialv opening adjacent which is achamber Vformed interiorly of the wheel, vthe combination oi a hub'formed separately therefrom and wholly contained within the axialopening, means within the chambered port-ion oi the wheel adapted toengagc with the hub for interlocking the wheel therewith, a ringremovably 1secured to the wheel side adjacent its center adapted toretain the hub within the axial opening, and means preventing access tosaid .ring comprising a cap arranged in covering relationthereto and inimmovable relation to the wheel, substantially as described.

6. In a steering wheel. having axial opening adjacent which is a chamber'formed interiorly of the wheel, the combination of hub formedseparately therefrom and wholly contained within the axial opening,means within the chambered portion of the wheel adapted to engage withthe hub tor interlocking the wheel therewith, the hub having a centralaperture `tapered in conformity with the end oit a steering post towhich it is adapted v'lor connection, the connection between the postand hub comprising a key inserted into a slot 'formed oit twocomplementary registering portions, one in the post and the other in thehub, a ring secured upon the wheel side adjacent its center forretaining the hub in operative relation to the wheel, a cap overlyingthe ring-to bar access thereto, the cap having 'post and the wheel,substantially as' described, l n

Y. ln a steering wheel having an axial opening adjacent which is achamber formed interiorly of the wheel, the conibination ol' a hubformed separately theretrom' and wholly contained within the axialopening, means within the wheel tor engaging with the hub to lock thewheel thereto comprising a clutch plate adapted to move toward andA fromthe wheel center and having a head arranged to' enter a notch Jrormed inthe hub, aV spring tending to hold the clutch-plate in engaging relationwith the hub, a` pin carried by the plate and having spring means -fornormally projecting the pi-n into a socket formed in the wheel wherebythe clutch plate is withheld against retraction from the hub, means eX-teriorly of the wheel for withdrawing the pin from locking position andthereafter withdrawing the clutch plate from engagement with the hub,and other means arranged to engage with the clutch plate when retractedto prevent its ire-engagement with the hub, the disengagingmovementso'll said latter means being key-controlled, subst-antially asdescribed. l

8. ln combination with a steering post having a tapered portion near itsend, a steering wheel arrangedrtor operative connection with the postand comprising a hub formed separately from the wheel and whollycontained wit-hin an opening termed axially of the wheel, the hub beingprovided with a tapered openinor adapted to ituponthe post, there beingcomplementary slots formed in the 'hub-and post anda key inserted insaid slots to lock the hub upon the post, means within the wheel adaptedto engage with the hub for interlocking the wheel thereto, and a cap forthe wheel having a threaded connection with the post, the cap beingformed with an opening in register with the key and having a pin in saidopening abutting thev key whereby the cap is non-rotatably secured inplace, substantially as described.

LEROY C. LAZEAR. Witness: j

EPHRAIM BANNING.

